Knowledge-based Indexing and Retrieval of Multimedia
InformaTion

Short description

The research question addressed in this project is: what methods, techniques
and tools can be developed for the description and indexing of multimedia
information, such that efficient and effective retrieval of information
can be achieved in a distributed, multilingual and multipurpose environment.
The approach taken in this project is that of knowledge-based indexing
and retrieval: an element of information -e.g. a small video fragment-
is described using a number of descriptive dimensions (descriptors) and
values taken from a set of standardised thesauri (ontologies). Each ontology
takes the form of a structured knowledge base that covers certain aspects
of the information domain. The explicit representation of the viewpoints
on which the ontology is based, allows the development of tools that
support non-expert users, with varying goals, in query formulation and
search. In addition, ontology technology provides the handles to access
multiple databases with different indexing schemes, through mapping operations.